What is personal style? A distillation of mood, influences, and wardrobe
to create the outward version of your best inner self.

As fashion has democratized, so have our wardrobes. Traditional dress
codes for gender, occupation, and occasion no longer apply.

Men wear ruffles, dresses, and heels—N.B.A. stars carry some of the
most lusted-after designer bags—and women rock men’s suiting and
combat boots like a “proper lady” should.

Whether you favor a signature uniform or a daily dose of artistic
expression, we hope this year’s list of fabulous honorees inspires you
to take some risks and be fashionably fearless!

We gathered together a style brain trust from a swath of creative
industries—themselves all possessed of effortless style—and asked
them, along with V.F.’s executive fashion director, Samira Nasr, to
nominate the most fashionable folks who catch their eye.

FASHION FLUIDITY

Pouring their creative juices into their wardrobe means consistently staying true to an aesthetic philosophy

“My style hasn’t changed, but my courage has—my ability to let myself be who I am and trust that, and suffer the consequences.”
Clothing by Valentino; bracelet by Aurélie Bidermann.

THE PEACOCKS

“Fashion is about a certain kind of vanity—in the best and worst senses of the word.”
Clothing by Junya Watanabe; earring by Wales Bonner; watch by Patek Philippe; shoes by Céline.

Photograph by Terry Tsiolis.

Louise Neri

Art curator and gallerist, New York

Born: Hawera, New Zealand.Favorite wardrobe item: It was a heavy
buckskin Alaïa jacket from 1984 that took one year to pay off on a
junior’s salary. It met a watery demise with Hurricane Sandy, otherwise
I would still be wearing it. Now it’s a bright-red nylon evening dress by Phoebe Philo for Céline.Favorite designers: Duro Olowu, Phoebe
Philo, Stefano Pilati, and Junya Watanabe—please don’t make me choose between them.Favorite shoe: An architectural pump by Stefano Pilati for YSL from 2009. People still ask.Favorite accessories: Heirlooms—a gold-and-rubber Patek Philippe Aquanaut, an 18th-century planetary ring,
and indigenous Tasmanian mariner-shell necklaces.Fashion purchase she regrets not making: Fashion purchases not made are not worth regretting.Style icon: Should I have one? If I must, I would suggest Maharani
Gayatri Devi—equally at home in a sari or a man’s suit.

Timothée Chalamet
Actor, New York

Photograph by Steve Granitz/WireImage.

Jay-Z
Musician, Los Angeles

From PictureGroup/Shutterstock.

V.F. Jury on Timothée Chalamet:

“White suit at the Oscars; Chalamet pushes the envelope, and it always
works.” - Elizabeth Saltzman

Jay-Z
Recently, Mr. Carter has been embracing a more tailored silhouette, with
70s-era shirts, and Gucci and Tom Ford suiting. He’s also grown out his
hair—a definite step toward a more mature, sexier version of himself,
while still having fun with his style.

Lebron James
In June, James arrived to Game One of the N.B.A. finals in an
exquisitely tailored Thom Browne short suit, dress socks hiked up to his
calves. That a six-foot-seven-inch generational talent could pull off
the Prince George look with such swagger earned pre-game
press-conference questions for both the Cavs’ and Warriors’ head
coaches. (They declined to answer.) “I keep in mind that comfort,
confidence, and what feels natural play a big part in style,” James
tells us.

THE ORIGINALS

Some people possess style so unique, you know that fashion is just another layer of their artistic expression

“Wear what you want to wear—it’s not a competition.”
T-shirt by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello; headpiece by Eric Javits; scarf by Salvatore Ferragamo.

Photograph by Terry Tsiolis.

Lakeith Stanfield

Actor, Los Angeles

Born: On a small deserted water rock in an apparently boundless universe
in a place named San Bernardino by those who won the war.Lives: A strange and oftentimes dark sunny place where illusions are cultivated
. . . Hollywood.Favorite wardrobe item: My serpent ring.Favorite place to shop: Gucci.Favorite scent: Rain clouds.Favorite shoe: Gucci loafers.Best red-carpet moment: [In 2015] I told my stylists I
wanted to wear a women’s suit [to the LA Film Festival], and they
found one. It was brilliant and beautiful, and I was like, “Yes, yes,
yes, yes. I have to do this.”Style advice: When it comes to my style,
I do what feels right. What people think about you is in their mind, not
yours. But I am a little bluebird flapping around.

Lauryn Hill
Eclectic in every sense of the word, Hill layers colors, textures, and
one-off pieces, mixing classic-soul 70s and early-80s vibes with a
modern twist—plus she styles all her own looks, on- and offstage. A
notable high-fashion mash-up from this year’s anniversary tour involved
a Balenciaga floral over a full tulle skirt.

POWER PLAYS

Feminine allure coupled with tailored trousers, a strong shoulder, or body-sculpted leather will kick the door in

“The only person who can define your personal style is you.”
Clothing by Wales Bonner; shoes by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.

Photograph by Terry Tsiolis.

Troye Sivan

Singer-songwriter, Los Angeles

Born: Johannesburg, South Africa.Favorite wardrobe item: Saint Laurent moto boots.Favorite designers: Valentino, Helmut Lang, and Wales
Bonner.Favorite place to shop: There are amazing vintage spots in L.A.
I love Hidden Treasures, Slow Clothing, and American Rag Cie.Favorite scent: Tacit, by Aesop.Favorite accessory: A pair of sunglasses that fit my face—which are hard to find!Best 2018 fashion purchase: An original Beatles Rubber Soul-era tee that I found in Auckland.Style icons: Mark Ronson, Annie Lennox, and Hedi Slimane.Style advice: For a long time, I didn’t allow myself to wear things that I actually
appreciated because I was worried I couldn’t pull them off. Push
yourself out of your comfort zone and trust your instincts—allow
yourself that journey.

Emmanuelle AltBorn: Paris. I am a pure Parisian!Favorite designer: Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent.Favorite place to shop: What Goes Around Comes Around, in
New York, has a very good selection of vintage pieces.Favorite scent: Anything with orange blossom.Favorite shoe: A pair of black boots from Isabel Marant.Favorite accessories: A simple belt and my Buccellati
ring.Best 2018 fashion purchase: A red cape, in Marrakech.Fashion purchase she regrets not making: A beautiful gold medal with a stone in
it, from a tiny store in Greece.Style icon:David Bowie.Style advice: Never try to be somebody else.

Rihanna
The ultimate chameleon, Rihanna embraces color and outlandishness. One
day she’ll choose a ball gown, like the jaw-dropping yellow Guo Pei
number she wore to the 2015 Met Gala, next masculine streetwear with
cleavage, then a bejeweled Gucci balaclava. A true style heroine.

H.R.H. Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex
This year, Meghan Markle’s style has evolved into a much sleeker,
high-fashion look. She’s the most daring of the royal fashion pack, and
her signature boatneck cut and monochromatic color choices exhibit
classic polish.

V.F. Jury on H.H. Sheikha Moza’s Style:
“Moza’s wardrobe is the ultimate regal power statement—she is a
modern Jacqueline Onassis.” - A.G.

Brigitte Macron
Flaunting the old convention that age and hemlines should move in
opposing directions, Macron has claimed the sexy above-the-knee look as
her signature. “The French have dubbed her `the French Jane Fonda,’ and
I don’t disagree,” says Elizabeth Saltzman. Her style is never fussy,
the silhouette always clean, and her promotion of French designers is a
no-brainer: chances are her skirt suit on any given day is her favorite,
Louis Vuitton. A tres respectable go-to.

REGAL BEARING

Making statements with power pieces—a bold coat, a crisp shirt, or knockout gems—requires killer dignity

“I want people to buy fashion like they’re stalwart fishermen—buy things that last.”
Suit by Dior; top by Maryam Nassir Zadeh.

Photograph by Terry Tsiolis.

Hailey Gates

Actress, New York

Born: Los Angeles.Favorite wardrobe item: A three-piece set by Congolese designer Fanny Mandina. My best friend got married in a
bullring, and I wore that.Favorite designers: Nudie Cohn and Mrs. Prada.Favorite scents: Jasmine and street meat.Favorite shoe: Maryam Nassir Zadeh.Favorite accessory: Dramamine.Best 2018 fashion purchase: Marshmallow gauze pajamas from Japan.Fashion purchase she regrets not making: A young designer I met in Russia was making these
silver rings with Vladimir Putin’s head on them and inscriptions roughly
translating to “Putin’s disciples.”Style icons: Renata Adler and H.H. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.Most stylish city: Kinshasa. There’s so much pride in dressing up—there are shrines to designers.Style motto: Comfort is overrated.

Miuccia Prada
Fashion designer, Milan

From REX/Shutterstock

Nathalie de Gunzburg
Art-foundation chairman, New York

Photograph by Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA/Shutterstock.

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
Fashion designers, New York

Photograph by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

Serena Williams
Tennis player, Los Angeles

Photograph by Alexis Ohanian.

Miuccia Prada
Embracing whimsy and consummate Italian tailoring and texture, Prada has
the wardrobe you want to steal, and style that can’t be copied. Apart
from her impeccable taste and foresight, the designer is applauded for
fashion bravery. Her love of color—particularly citrus
accents—playful embellishment, and pairings few would dare to try
continue to make her personal style as influential as her creations. She
is also in touch with her serious side, favoring a below-the-knee
hemline and a ladylike buckled pump. Mrs. Prada is the queen of her own
game.

Nathalie de Gunzburg
“With her exquisite jewelry collection, de Gunzburg is an unusual
colorist of gem tones; such as when she’s punctuating a swath of
bright-yellow satin with an amethyst-and-ruby JAR necklace.” - Jeanne
Greenberg Rohatyn

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
No one has undergone the style evolution of the Olsens, to arrive at the
most winnowed-down, minimally exquisite versions of themselves. Ashley
has always preferred a tailored silhouette, Mary-Kate is more bohemian,
but in their early 20s both favored the heavily layered,
multiple-Birkins style that made them fashion catnip. Today, their look
echoes an almost Japanese austerity, with simple draping and a
monochromatic palette. But they still let expensive accessories do the
talking; their vintage jewelry collection is a showstopper.

V.F. Jury on Serena Williams:
“Williams has influenced style on the court, and also off: she paired a
Valentino gown with tennis shoes for Harry and Meghan’s wedding
reception—fearless and original.” - Samira Nasr

THE MIX MASTERS

Whether you honed your instincts in a skate shop, or as an American icon, the cumulative effect is glowing

“I consider dressing up to be part of my creative path. And that’s what it’s been, it sure has—I’m a late bloomer.”
Suit by Prada; sweater by Tom Ford; glasses by Jacques Marie Mage; watch by Cartier; rings by Chrome Hearts.

From left, by Raymond Hall/GC Images, Matthew Sperzel, from Say Cheese!/GC Images, all from Getty Images.

Jonah Hill
Hill has long been a student of the style family—genus: streetwear;
species: skater boy—but recently he has undergone what’s known to the
scientific community as a “glow up.” Lush camel overcoats over Hello,
Dolly! hoodies. Sambas paired with Grateful Dead-inspired tie-dye. Pink
hair on top, Sean Wotherspoon’s Air Max 1/97 VF SWs on the bottom
(corduroy, for texture). Squint and you’ll think you’re looking at a
recent college grad whose parents still have a loose hold on his
emergency credit card. But Hill’s commitment to the look is as deep as
the pockets on his Prada coat. A style star is born.

Ralph Lauren
When it comes to a look that says “effortless preppy-Western classic,”
there’s one man who pulls it off best, and that’s the man who invented
it. Although Lauren’s designs continue to evolve, the pillars of his
style really haven’t; he’s always leaned toward button-downs, denim,
leather, and suede, and a cowboy boot for any occasion. Most recently,
he loves a hiking boot, which is no surprise—after 50 years
influencing American style, there’s always room for a new spin.

THE NEW ELEGANCE

Opt for poise with panache—confidence and a sense of adventure can lead to exciting style discoveries

Cecile Richards
Activist, New York

Photograph by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images.

Shanay Jhaveri
Museum curator, New York

Photograph by Shubham Lodha.

Carla Sozzani
Gallerist and businesswoman, Milan

Photograph by Darren Gerrish/WireImage.

V.F. Jury on Richards:
“Mixing strength and sensuality with bold colors and a few ruffles,
Richards is a feminine force.” - Derek Blasberg

Shanay JhaveriBorn: Mumbai.Favorite wardrobe item: White cotton pajamas made by my
tailor in India, a version of which I have been wearing since I was two.Best 2018 fashion purchase: A green quadruple-breasted suit by Haider
Ackermann for Berluti.

Zoë Kravitz
Beauty aside, Kravitz also hit the genetic jackpot style-wise—Lenny
Kravitz and Lisa Bonet are rare birds in the fashion flock. The actress
has taken that love for vintage, piercings, and edgy layering, and
interpreted it anew. With a more refined spin, Kravitz can take a dress
code and turn it on its head. “I see her and her family at flea markets
and you just fall over—the seas part,” says Eisner. “No one looks
like them; they’re very tribal. Zoë is like the queen of her own
tribe.”